August 2011
August was a month of change here at the Matthews Group, Gustavo and Sara Jimenez welcomed a beautiful baby boy. Henry made his debut into the world on Aug 19th. Mom and dad are both accountants – what chance does Henry have?
Congratulations go out to Trevor Frankiw and Nicole Do who wed on August 13th. They spent their honey- moon touring Tahiti. We all wish them a long and happy life together.
After nine years with the group Cindy Salvucci has left to explore other interests. While she will be missed by all we welcome Kevin Mitchell to our team.
Kevin Joins us with over 30 years experience in all aspects of business across many industries including engineering, seismic acquisition, construction and building services and brings a vast knowledge of accounting, systems and operations with him.
He received his CGA designation in 1995 and is a graduate of the University of Calgary. In his most recent role, Kevin served as General Manager and Vice President Finance for a commercial cleaning contractor in Calgary helping oversee a business growth from $4.4 million to $8.6 million in revenue.

July 2011
Gustavo Jimenez joined the Matthews group in July of 2011. Gustavo is working toward his professional accounting designation and has been working in public practice since the fall of 2010. He is excited to continue his public practice career with the Matthews Group and hopes to complete his professional accounting exams in the coming year. Gustavo has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of the Fraser Valley and prior to entering public practice has worked in various accounting roles in industry and more recently operated a successful real estate business in Calgary. Gustavo is happy to be back working in accounting full-time and working with clients. In his spare time Gustavo enjoys paintball, taking his chocolate lab for swims and traveling with his wife.

March 15, 2011
We have been in our new offices for a month; client and staff reactions have been very positive.  It is a far more efficient space in a well managed building. Everyone seems to enjoy coming to work.
The move itself was a smooth one, thanks to the organizational efforts of Karen Stefanic, Cindy Salvucci and Bert Boulet, and the willing efforts of all the others in the team who pitched in and worked extra hours to make it a success.
Bert led our search for new offices.  We stayed in the beltline because our clients (and team members) are from all over Calgary and area.  Suburban or downtown offices would have inconvenienced too many of them. So, Vintage Towers became our first choice because it was an easy walk to downtown but had the best lot and street parking we could find in the beltline.  As it turns out, we also really enjoy the genteel air of the building. We think it has style.  Job well done, Bert.
March 14, 2011
 IGAF, an international association of independent accounting firms like our own, is today announcing a merger with two other similar associations, Polaris International and Fidunion. The new organization, IGAF Polaris, will have 384 member firms with 843 offices in 89 countries.  IGAF Polaris is a substantial organization with 2,400 partners and 16,300 employees worldwide.  Combined revenues are close to US$2 billion.
We may live in Calgary but our clients travel the world; we joined IGAF some years ago to access people and information wherever our clients wanted to invest or do business.  This merger improves the resources available to us.     
February 2011
Congratulations to Nathan Ma on completing his requirements as a Certified General Accountant (CGA).  Nathan was born, raised and educated in Saskatoon, usually a good start in life.  He earned his two degrees in Psychology and Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan in 2004.   
While at school he worked as an IT technician for the U of S and as an advisor at an insurance brokerage in Saskatoon.  After university he joined a bilingual accounting firm for a year before moving out to Calgary to become part of our team in September 2005. 

Nathan is our internal go to guy for computer or software problems. Away from work he enjoys traveling with his wife, tactical simulations and playing ball hockey. His latest challenge is golf. Go to it, Nathan! 

February 2011
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta has just informed Ray Matthews that this is the last year he will have to pay annual dues, as he is now in his 40th year as a CA.  It’s rumored that others in the firm are thinking of bronzing him and sticking him in a corner.
February 15, 2011
The Matthews Group moves to the top floor of the Vintage Building on 11th Avenue and 2nd Street SW.
January 1, 2011
Michael Vandezande, Joined the Matthews Group in January 2011. Born and raised in Calgary. he attended the U of C and earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Haskayne School of Business. He is currently enrolled in the Chartered Accountant School of Business. Previously he was with a smaller accounting firm where worked on a wide variety of clients from personal tax returns to audits. Outside of work Michael enjoys playing golf and hockey. He played with the Bow Valley and Calgary Buffalo Hockey Associations where he competed at AAA and junior levels.

Shauna Frederick and Kelly Ross are appointed as Associates in The Matthews Group.
Shauna Frederick
Shauna is another of the bright next generation in our office. She grew up in Dawson Creek, BC, and moved to Calgary to study at the U of C.  After two years she found she preferred work to school and left to work her way through various accounting positions in the Oil & Gas Industry.  Her nine years in industry gave her broad experience with a number of smaller entrepreneurial organizations and a large public company.
 Shauna completed her B Comm degree by correspondence through the University of Athabasca and then enrolled in the CA School of Business program to work towards her CA, which she earned in 2009. She is a dedicated hard-working individual – our office conscience when it comes to organizing charitable activities in our community.  Shauna is on the board of the Famous 5 Foundation.
Kelly Ross
Kelly qualified as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) in 2004. 
He has worked in public practice and as CFO with a Calgary manufacturing company. He came back to public practice when he joined our team in 2007.  While with us, he decided to enter the CA program and enrolled with the CA School of Business, where he sat on the Student Advisory Council.
Kelly’s business background and diligent study habits helped him to pass the Uniform Final Exam for CA’s in 2010. He is currently completing practicum work and expects to earn the CA designation in 2011.  Kelly is very client service oriented. He and his family are involved in numerous community activities. He presently sits on the board of Community Futures Centre West, a non-profit organization that provides loans and business advisory services to entrepreneurs in rural Alberta. 
December 2010
Credit cards in hand two TMG teams descend on the Walmart in Westbrook Mall in a competition to overload two carts for No Crib for a Bed.  Underfoot Ray Matthews is sent on a Wild Goose Chase by his team captain – causing his team to lose. Demands a recount.  
December 2010
Kelly Ross CMA passes the Uniform Final Examinations that will qualify him as a Chartered Accountant in addition to his CMA.

Karen Johnson joined us in December. Karen is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) with more than 25 years experience. She has held senior management positions in both private and public sectors. She brings a wealth of expertise on tax matters and adds further depth to our tax practice. Karen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Bishop's University and Master of Taxation from the University of Waterloo. Karen has been actively engaged in governance of the Society of CMAs and is a past-president of the Yukon Society of CMAs. She also contributes her time to charitable causes and has sat on the boards of non-profit organizations. In her spare time, Karen enjoys reading, hiking and entertaining friends.






November 2010
Shauna Frederick joins the Board of the Famous 5 Foundation.
September 1, 2010
Cindy Salvucci CGA, a long-time member of TMG, is appointed head of administrative services for the firm.
December 2009
Shauna Frederick and Trevor Frankiw pass the Uniform Final Examinations that will qualify them as Chartered Accountants.
November 24, 2008
The Matthews Group expands its offices by sub-leasing adjacent space.
July 2008
Bert Boulet CA joins The Matthews Group as a partner.  Bert was previously a partner in RSM Richter and Moody, Boulet, Shikaze.
Bert Boulet CA
Bert was born and grew up in Winnipeg.  He went to university at Concordia in Montreal.

Before he came to TMG he was a partner in RSM Richter LLP and Moody Shikaze Boulet LLP. 

Bert has both industry and public practice experience. After completing his CA training working mainly on private companies with a local Calgary accounting firm, Bert left to become Corporate Controller at the Jager Group, a company well known in the development and construction industry.

Later he became Chief Financial Officer with Big Rock Breweries and was there during its expansion phase into its current main production facility.

In 2000 Bert returned to public practice and has spent his career since that time looking after owner-managed businesses and high net worth individuals. His special interests are in business planning, the purchase and sale of businesses, debt financing and due diligence. Bert is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Canadian Tax Foundation and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
July 2008
Shauna Frederick joins The Matthews Group.  Shauna, a CA student at that time with a lot of industry experience, is later admitted as an Associate of the Partnership in January 2011.
May 2007
Kelly Ross joins The Matthews Group.  Kelly, a CMA with extensive experience in industry and public practice, is later admitted as an Associate of the Partnership in January 2011.
Mar 2007
Kris Matthews appointed to the Board of Defence Construction Canada, a Federal Crown Corporation.  Later becomes Chair of the Audit Committee.
August 2006
Kris Matthews earns her ICD.D designation.
September 2005
Kris Matthews invited to join the International Forum of Women.
July 1, 2005
TMG moves into new offices within the Mount Royal Village Complex.
December 2003                
Ray Matthews passes the equivalency examinations that qualify him as a US Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
October 2003
Kris Matthews appointed Chair of the Society of Management Accountants of Alberta. She also is appointed as the Alberta representative to the National Board of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada.
May 2003
Kris Matthews appointed to the Board of Parkland Industries Income Trust) (TSE
Listing) as a Director and Member of the Audit Committee. Parkland is Canada’s largest independent fuel supplier.
November 2002
Cindy Salvucci joins The Matthews Group as a Staff Accountant.  Cindy has extensive experience in public practice.
October 2002
Kris Matthews awarded her Fellowship in the Society of Management Accountants of Canada in recognition of her contributions to the Community, the Society and the Accounting Profession. The Fellowship is a national award given to a small number of the Society’s members. In 2002 the Society had some 35,000 members across Canada.  It had granted only some 350 Fellowships in its history. Three were granted in Alberta in 2002. 
2001
Ray Matthews qualifies as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
October 2001
Monuments to the Famous 5 are unveiled by the Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson, in Calgary’s Olympic Square.
May 2001
Kris Matthews appointed to Board of Prime Restaurants Royalty Income Fund (TSE listing). Prime is better known for its East Side Mario’s restaurants and Casey’s pubs.  She also becomes a Director and the President of PRC Trademarks Inc.
April 11, 2001
Kris receives award from the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Calgary as their inaugural Woman of the Year.
January 2001
The offices in Mount Royal Village are once again remodeled.
October 2000
Monuments to the Famous 5 are erected on Parliament Hill.
May 2000
Kris Matthews appointed Chair of the Famous 5 Foundation.
February 1, 1999
The Matthews Group expands to take over space adjacent to its existing offices in Mount Royal Village.
July 1, 1998
The Matthews Group remodels its offices on the 4th floor of Mount Royal Village.
September 1997
Kris Matthews joins the Board of the Famous 5 Foundation. She is also its Treasurer.  The Foundation was formed to recognize the contribution of 5 Alberta women who were instrumental in getting women recognized in law as ‘persons’.  The 1929 decision made by the Privy Council in Britain affected the status of women across Canada and in other countries in the Commonwealth.
The contribution of these 5 Alberta women was recognized by the erection of a monument to the women alongside the Senate on Parliament Hill and by a similar monument to them in Olympic Square Calgary. The Parliament Hill monument was a first – a departure from a string of past prime ministers and monarchs. http://www.famous5.ca/about.html
1995 to 2003
Kris Matthews volunteers for, serves on and\or chairs  boards and committees for the Society of Management Accountants of Alberta, including various Disciplinary hearings, Ad-hoc Committee to Define Entry Standards for CMA’s in Public Practice, Public Practice Committee, M-7 Boards to evaluate CMA candidates, Audit and Risk Committee, Ethics Task Force, Governance Committee, Compensation and Evaluation Committee. She also represents the SMA on JPRAC, a co-ordinating committee between the three major accounting bodies recognized in Alberta.
October 1990
Kris Matthews appointed to the Advisory Board of Female Entrepreneurs for the Federal Business Development Bank (now BDC).
July 1, 1990
The Matthews Group moves to the 4th floor of Mount Royal Village on the corner of 17th Avenue and 8th Street SW.
Kris Matthews

Kris was born in Copenhagen but her family came to Canada when she was a child.  They settled first in Ontario but later moved to Alberta. Kris grew up in Calgary. 

Her early career was in drafting in the oil and gas industry.  Later she decided to become a Certified Management Accountant. As a student, she worked in both industry and public practice.  She returned to industry after leaving public practice to join a major development company, but left again to start her own practice in 1983.  Kris has always been active in community affairs and her profession.  Today (January 2011) Kris has a large and varied practice of entrepreneurial clients.
Ray Matthews
Ray grew up in the UK. He studied at the LSE and has an honours degree from London University. Afterwards he spent two years in the Army, followed by two years as a management trainee with a large aerospace company.  He left a middle management position there to drive across Canada, meaning to return to the UK after two years.  He stayed. Ray failed miserably in his first job here in Calgary as bookkeeper and carpet salesman, and became a CA student because he made friends with the accountants sent in to correct his errors.  He started his own practice in 1973, working then and now with entrepreneurial clients..
November 1, 1986
Kris Matthews CMA and Ray Matthews CA start The Matthews Group. Their office was on the 4th floor of Highstreet House at 17th Avenue and 9th Street SW.  Particular attractions of the location – other than good client parking – were Callebaut on the same block and Decadent Desserts across the road.
In 1986 Calgary was still suffering from the after effects of the National Energy Program.
Shotgun toting bandits celebrated by holding up the RBC branch on the main floor.